Just letting everyone know: today, Monday, December 1 only, #Amazon is running a 30% promo on any print book. If you had in mind to order my books, but didn’t get the chance – this is a great opportunity! Enter promo code: HOLIDAY30.

My ebook sale is also still on through holidays! Stepford USA ebook is only $1.49! Check out others, too.

All prices in dollars US, or equivalents in the currency of your respective country.

Tricks for the enjoyable ebook reading experience

As opposed to paperbacks, which we all love, ebooks may seem different and intimidating, unless you are tech savvy. But ebooks are really quite easy to read, if you know a few tricks! Ebooks can be read if you have a Kindle reader (for other retailers it’s Nook, IPad, Sony reader, etc.). Ebooks can also be read on any Android Tablet such as Archos. Archos allows for reading ebooks in any format – unlike some of the dedicated readers that restrict you to reading in a specific format, thus limiting you to a specific ebook retailer.

If you don’t have any of these, no problem!

KINDLE for PC can be downloaded FREE on Amazon when you purchase any ebook. You’ll see this option right on top of the book cover. It’s called KINDLE APP. Therefore, any ebook can be downloaded and read directly on your computer!

If you still prefer the feel of a print book in your hands, paperbacks of my books are available by clicking on the same links above!

You can find my books on Amazon in a number of ways:

1. Click on each title above, (or you can always click on any book cover on the right side bar of this blog), for Amazon.com link (both ebook and paperback).

2. Go to BOOKS for links to other international Amazon sites, as well as BN and other retailers. The BOOKS page also contains book descriptions, stats, and a mini-guide to Lada Ray books.

4. Useful tip: in order to find any of my books in your country, simply click on respective Amazon.com link above. Then, substitute ‘com’ on your computer’s top url bar for ‘co.uk,’ ‘de,’ ‘it,’ ‘fr,’ ‘jp,’ or any other country.

A million thanks to Christa from the Netherlands, and to Celeste Brunetti,

***** 5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good and Very Interesting Story!, October 1, 2014
This review is from: The Earth Shifter (Paperback)
Very good and interesting story! We know nothing about Russia here in the West, now do we? So this is a great book, and her other books for that matter, to learn more about the history of this immensely big and unknown land!
Next to history this book is about shamanism, Mind control, Remote Viewing, and Esoteric and Karmic issues, so very interesting for those who are, or not, familiar and/or interested in reading about all these fascinating topics!
Very well done, Lada Ray, I’m looking forward to the next installment!!

4. Ukraine shot the plane down to kill Vladimir Putin.
This rumor actually originated with Russia’s state-run Interfax news agency before seeping into the U.S. Per Interfax, Putin’s presidential jet flew the same route as MH17 at almost the same time, and his aircraft was the same size and coloring as the downed plane — leading some to speculate that the crash was an assassination attempt gone very wrong. (“This was a deliberate attempt to shoot down the Russian presidential plane carrying Vladimir Putin one his way from the Latin American visit,” wrote blogger Lada Rey, in all-caps.) But as Russia’s RT, another state-run news outlet, debunked shortly thereafter, Putin’s plane has not flown over Ukraine since the start of conflict there, and he certainly wasn’t flying that flight path Thursday. At the time, Putin was returning to Moscow from Brazil.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WORK!! I truly value each of your articles.
Enjoy the Fame!!
Endless Blessings!”
……

She later added this:

“Lada….I just viewed it as simply throwing disinformation to discredit a **genuine Journalist**, one of the few we still have!!!
Just think Lada, you are now in the Mainstream Media.
Take Good Care, Hugs!!”
….

I want to thank this reader one more time for a nice mention and for thinking of me so highly! It means a lot. I am not using her name in this post as I am not sure whether she would like that.

Many of you may know how I feel about the American MSM. Certainly, I wouldn’t say ‘no’ should someone in the mainstream press or TV ask me to genuinely, truly speak my mind, and not in the derogatory way as is portrayed in this ‘MSM article.’ The more people hear my true message, the better! Of course, they would also have to spell my name correctly, for start. But I think at least one of these would be a real miracle to hope for.

Many of you also know that my opinion and prediction is that the global alternative and citizen media is what really counts today, and will count even more tomorrow. Consider this: to get my name mentioned in that Washington Post piece, someone had to do a google search, where I must have come on top.

To illustrate this, I want to give you a bit of statistics from the FuturisTrendcast blog.

I think this illustrates very well the power of alternative and citizen media in the dissemination of the information.

In conclusion, some important announcements!

1. My interview with The Plane Truthshow, which delves into various hidden aspects and powers of the world, will come out in a day or so. Links and video will be posted here, as well as in Interviews. Also check Time Monk Radio YT channel and Lada Ray YouTube channel for more. This interview touches upon my global predictions, and my books, especially THE EARTH SHIFTER, and GOLD TRAIN. We talk about what is the true Feng Shui; the shamanic power animal and soul retrieval practices; Siberian shaman Tengis as the most formidable and fascinating character of The Earth Shifter. We talk about the real Earth Keepers and ETs, as well as what is demons, and other hidden energies. We touch upon the RaySystem of Long Cycles, and my predictions based on this system. Don’t miss this fascinating interview!

Those interested in understanding my message deeper, as well as enjoying a great read, can purchase my books at Amazon and BN worldwide as very affordable ebooks, and paperbacks. Click on book images on the side bar, or go to Books.

3. Dear readers, the article I promised you all: Is Putin a Part of NWO? will be posted a few days later! In the article I will also talk about what is behind the recent scandal of the Belgian US treasury purchase.

4. A very Special announcement!

I am planning a Special Report that will go much deeper into the phenomenon wrapped in an enigmathat we know as “Vladimir Putin.”

I know there is tremendous interest in solving the Putin riddle worldwide, and believe me – it’s for a very good reason. Let’s just say, I solved this riddle. I will talk about it first in the upcoming article: “Is Putin a Part of NWO?”

However, my Special Report will go substantially deeper and will uncover mysteries of completely different nature.

I will go into history and language mysteries; into striking and profound geopolitical parallels and coincidences; the karmic and mystical depths that few will ever see, or consider. The report will also touch upon prophecies, the issue of the planetary energy, and the destiny and global role of Russia.

This report will be available in three weeks or so, via my new website only. Since I spend a lot of my time and energy (literally and figuratively speaking) sharing my knowledge and information with all for free, this can be your opportunity to contribute and support my work. Therefore, I decided to make this Special Report donation-based.

We are working to make it available for purchase/donation worldwide. In my upcoming interview with The Plane Truth, I give a teaser and a sneak peek into the report that is quite fascinating in itself. As mentioned above, the interview will be available in a day or so.

If you haven’t checked out my books yet, you can do so by sampling the extensive excerpts I have posted under the new Excerpts tab on FuturisTrendcast blog. Or you can use the drop down Excerpts menu on top of the same blog. These excerpts are at times charming, at times dramatic and educational. And I like to think they are entertaining, too. My books are international, or inter-dimensional, adventure thrillers, most with mystical element.

For those who’ve missed my mega-sale, THE EARTH SHIFTER and GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) are still $1.49 (reg. $4.99 and $3.99) on #Kindle and #Sony! This won’t last, so check’em out while the price is low!

Also, we have new promo by #Amazon: purchase my paperbacks (THE EARTH SHIFTER, GOLD TRAIN, STEPFORD USA), and download corresponding ebook for only $.99! If you are interested, take a look here! (Scroll down to paperbacks).

I’m continuing with THE EARTH SHIFTER excerpts. Today’s entertaining episode is about the mysterious and beautiful brunette with clandestine plans, called simply “Red,” her Underworld castle, and Kei’s drag racing in his new magical car. While reading this, you’ll notice that I know my drag racing. If you think that I might have had this kind of experience in my life – neah, not really. Me, I’ve always been a proper little girl. However, I really do possess first-hand knowledge of how it’s done. How, you ask? Believe it or not, from my hubby, who was quite a daredevil in his previous life and who was known to climb steep mountains, cycle and drag race along the Canarsie Pier in Brooklyn, just as it is described in the book. So, the technical details here come straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. ;)Continue reading →

Christmas and New Year’s are quickly approaching, and I have great news for those who are ready to load up their new #Kindles, #Nooks and e-readers with some scrumptious holiday reads! If you like original, mind-bending fiction; if you enjoy expanding your horizons with exotic, spiritual, thought-provoking adventures; if you crave knowledge about foreign cultures and the hidden secrets of our world – my books are for you!

All 3 of my novels are on huge sale – both ebooks and paperbacks – for a whole week starting Monday, December 9, through December 16, 2013, on #Amazon, #BN and #Smashwords!

All my 3 novels are now available as paperbacks at both Amazon and BN! Click on buy links below! Continue reading →

1. Wow! Due to the veritable avalanche of super-exciting features, interviews and posts that are still waiting in line, I am happy to announce that I’m extending THE EARTH SHIFTER Virtual Tour into May. Still to come: Real Russia Video Journey 2: Spectacular Moscow, new dramatic video/audio excerpts, new reviews & features! And of course, don’t miss our Mega-giveaway grand finale on May 31! There’s still time to enter!

2. In the excitement of the launch, I somehow forgot to mention that I have started my own brand & publishing house dedicated to publishing and promoting literature with conscience, message and meaning. After a lot of deliberations, I’ve decided to call it RAY HOUSE. Going forward, all my books will carry the Ray House logo and designation.

3. YA Revolution is gaining momentum and I hope to have more activities going on soon. It is a grassroots movement, and all authors interested in literature with message & meaning are encouraged to join and network! Read more here.

And now, today’s feature:

Exciting and notable 2013 thriller releases for all ages! This is an article generously shared by author Joshua Lisec. Featured on his blog and syndicated to his publisher’s website, it includes the new releases by Dan Brown, Josh Lisec and yours truly. Continue reading →

Interview with Author Lada Ray. A very cool and spunky conversation conducted by spiritual blogger, Maddy Walsh, in which we discuss my new metaphysical YA fantasy thriller THE EARTH SHIFTER, its many fascinating characters and the book’s Multiverse, the spiritual way of handling a conflict, the issue of bullying, whether Kristen Stuart would be right for the role of Sasha, would that Bond girl be a perfect “Red,” and what’s next in the series!

Ah, it’s that time of the year again. My favorite season plus the mega-popular NaNoWriMo is here! Come November 1, 300,000 writers – seasoned, aspiring and anywhere in-between, will be pulling college-style all-nighters in order to accomplish the admirable goal of finishing that dream of a novel, or at least enough of it (namely, 50k words) to paste the coveted “NaNoWriMo 2012 Winner!” badge on their website, blog, or Facebook page.

This year, I decided to join, too. As many of you know, I am working on my big project: THE EARTH SHIFTER, new metaphysical YA fantasy/thriller – anticipated release: December, 2012. Full-size cover, blurb and more here.

I will not be using NaNoWriMo to write my novel from scratch, but rather to finish it, polish it up and make it as absorbing and delightful to read as possible. THE EARTH SHIFTER is substantially longer than 50k words, so I have my work cut out for me. ;)

I went ahead and joined the Upstate New York chapter of NaNoWriMo. Writing is a lonely endeavor, therefore write-ins are a great way to break up the monotony and to meet fellow writers and kindred spirits (and potential readers, too). Write-ins can be done at participating library or book store, but for the real ambiance, a coffee house with wi-fi and all the writer’s best friends, namely coffee, tea and lots of chocolate, is highly preferred.

I am looking for write-in buddies to meet at one of the following 2 places:

1. Latte Lounge, 196 Main St, Oneonta. http://www.the-latte-lounge.com/ If you are nearby and would like to join, I am planning on being there on Thursday, 11/1 3-7 pm. A couple of people expressed an interest in this write-in. We may make it a regular, if all goes well.

From the Earth Keepers Chronicles

Mankind would never know how close it came to annihilation on June 30, 1908. Somewhere in the murky depths of the Cosmos, a Comet of Karma is born. When all hope fades, it is sent to planet Earth, its sole mission to wipe out a failing civilization. It has happened before, and it can happen again. Except this time, the Earth Keepers would not interfere.

TODAY

The Comet of Karma tasked with destroying a failing civilization…

The Earth Keepers endowed with supreme powers over the planet and agonizing over the ultimate decision…

The Protectors risking their lives to keep the world intact…

A beautiful brunette with hidden agenda, who is infinitely more than anyone knows…

Two ambitious and unscrupulous men, who’ll stop at nothing…

Global secret society bent on usurping power on Earth…

A woman, ready to betray in order to save her son…

Old spy organization with a secret human weapon…

The Shifters, with power over mind, matter, time and space…

And three teenagers, two of whom are destined to become mankind’s salvation—the all-powerful KEY of DESTINY. They will open a new era for humanity, if they succeed in keeping their souls uncorrupted… and if they manage to come together before it’s too late…

The GOLD TRAINblog tour, Stepford USA and Green Desert free promos, and life in general, have somewhat delayed the completion of THE EARTH SHIFTER, my new YA fantasy thriller. But I am getting back on track and have every intention of writing through the summer. THE EARTH SHIFTER release is scheduled for mid-September. So if I am MIA, you’ll know where to find me, namely, at my desk, typing away.

Note: This is only the preliminary cover

THE EARTH SHIFTER is set in Moscow, sacred Lake Baikal in Siberia, New York, China, as well as other mystical realms of this surreal Blue Planet. I will be posting updates of my progress, as well as the book’s synopsis and excerpts throughout the summer. To find out more about THE EARTH SHIFTER, please visit my author website http://www.LadaRay.com/the-earth-shifter.

I am also working on DRAGON GATE, the new Jade Snow Adventure set in Asia. It is currently set for release during the Holiday Season 2012.

The weather has been very nice, and I hope to also find the time to enjoy the great outdoors. We have pretty fabulous nature here, in the Catskill Mountains. I enjoy hiking on the local Rail Trail, a defunct rail road turned nature trail, looking for inspiration.

I’ve taken some fabulous photos, but since WordPress has been pretty uncooperative lately, it’s been difficult to post a lot of pics in one post, evidently, due to WordPress’ servers being overwhelmed. My husband’s verdict: they need more bandwidth. He should know, this is right up his alley. Perhaps, one day I’ll share as many great pics as possible. But today, here are just a few as a sampler. I think you are gonna love them!

5/31quick update:STEPFORD USA and GREEN DESERT free promos are over. Over 3000 free copies of my books have been downloaded during the past few days and both books appeared on Kindle international bestseller lists. A million thanks to All for your interest and support! I wish all my readers a very happy reading and hope you enjoy my books! :) Do remember to support your favorite authors by liking their books and contributing Amazon &Goodreadsreviews!

This was the first time I’ve done the free promotion and I intend to share the results, my impressions (which are mixed at best), and thoughts on Kindle KDP Select program and the direction it’s taking, in a future post. For all the details/blurbs/book trailers/rankings see: STEPFORD USA post; GREEN DESERT post. I initially intended to include GOLD TRAIN in this free promo, but based on my impressions, I reconsidered it, at least for now. For more about that read my future post. For more about all my books see official author website: http://www.LadaRay.com

Set in Iraq, this riveting short novella takes place prior to the start of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series.

FIVE STARS:

“Riveting story with powerful message!” Meredith Carvin

FIVE STARS:

“This story will rock your world.” Bill Tillman

International journalist Jade Snow travels to Iraq to shoot a documentary about the Iraqi insurgency. In Baghdad she, as usual, finds herself in the wrong place at just the right time. After witnessing a dramatic suicide bombing, and as two unlikely letters from the opposite sides of the conflict drop in her lap, Jade must trace the shocking connection between the suicide bomber, a young Iraqi girl and American sergeant killed in the attack.

A Jade Snow Prequel. Category: suspense, mystery/thriller

So far, GREEN DESERT has reached the following highest rankings on Kindle:

GOLD TRAIN, rip roaring thrill-ride mystery thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events (Jade Snow #2, Russia Adventure)STEPFORD USA, psychological mystery thriller (Jade Snow #1, US Adventure)
NOTE: While each book in the Jade Snow Series stands on its own, it is advisable to read them sequentially to fully appreciate the plot twists and character development.

My new mystery thriller set in Russia, GOLD TRAIN, is about a missing treasure: the entire Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, which vanished during the 1918 Civil War. But it’s about to resurface… and it’s about to be used to shift the global balance of power.

The exciting and rip-roaring race for gold is set against the magnificent backdrop of historic Moscow and Saint Petersburg, where our heroine, Jade Snow, travels to reconnect with the country of her ancestors and to investigate tantalizing mystery of the Gold Train.

However, Jade gets much more than she bargained for, and amongst palaces and golden domes of Russia she finds not only the non-stop thrill ride, intrigue and deception, but also her fair share of the world’s most important treasures – not just the planet’s largest pile of gold and friendship, but also otherworldly love.

In this post I wanted to share the treasures of Russia, the country I love. Its riches are many. And I am not just talking about its gold reserve and Imperial jewels, although granted, these are quite impressive. Through its long and turbulent history the country produced lots of other equally magnificent treasures, be it in the area of art, science, literature, sport or architecture. I realize that today I can only scratch the surface of what is Russian culture and heritage. But even if I just succeed in giving you the flavor of Russia’s Treasures, I’ve already accomplished a lot.

Today, I’ll share a compilation of beautiful photos representing various facets of the Russian culture.

Above and below: The newly restored Amber Room, Catherine Palace, located in the town of Pushkin, near Saint Petersburg. Considered by some the Eighth Wonder of the World. The original Amber Room was stolen by the Nazis and had never been found

GOLD TRAIN GIVEAWAY: Please leave a comment to be entered to win a GOLD TRAIN ebook on 5/6, including the *required info! What is the required info? See here!

The Ancient Greeks would have you believe that one cannot step into the same river twice. Me — I dedicated my whole life to proving this dusty philosophical maxim.

When I was leaving Russia — very reluctantly — in 1991, the country was still called the Soviet Union, and if anyone at that time told me that the USSR’s days were numbered, I would’ve laughed in his face.

By the end of 1991, the Soviet Union broke up, quietly and amicably. I watched in disbelief from afar as, for the second time in a single century, Russia went through a revolution; thankfully, this time peacefully.

Next time I visited Russia during the turbulent 1990s, it was a completely different country, where safety nets and societal structures so solidly built and proudly maintained during Soviet times crumbled and ceased to exist. The new world emerged in birthing pains, while those who couldn’t adjust were mercilessly swept along the wayside. Crime was rampant and fortunes were built overnight, many by openly illegal means. A new class of Russian oligarchs emerged, while the needs of simple people were neglected.

It was an eye-opening and very sad visit. The country I remembered, the country where I spent some of the happiest days of my life, and the one so many took for granted, was gone. And I was hardly the only one who felt this way.

Although people in the West (due to biased media coverage and stereotypes they grew up with) would probably never understand this, many of us have fond memories growing up in the Soviet Union. Since the space in this post is limited, I won’t go into details (well, may be some other time). Suffice it to say that fond memories don’t happen out of the blue. They usually happen for a good reason, especially if such memories are shared by entire generations.

Food for thought…

But the situation in Russia started changing dramatically once Vladimir Putin came to power in the year 2000. The Russian economy, which was almost obliterated during the 1990s, came back strongly and has been growing by leaps and bounds for the past decade. The ongoing economic, financial, political, legal, military, police and social reforms completely changed Russia’s landscape.

Above: Fireworks on Red Square, Moscow.

A couple years back, I stumbled upon a documentary about the Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, which vanished during the 1918 Russian Civil War. I immediately knew it was my book to write. But it took me two years to actually sit down and put the story on paper. I started writing GOLD TRAIN in July 2011. By August, I had a desperate urge to go and visit Russia.

So off I went. I spent three glorious weeks in Russia, stepping again into a completely different country and proving once more that the Ancient Greeks knew their philosophy.

Russia has changed, but at the same time managed to preserve its heritage. The new and the old learned to co-exist and complemented each other. Starbucks and McDonalds, Gucci and Armani, Mercedes and BMWs shared streets with the long-standing Russian tradition.

The new Russia clearly emerged, molded out of past suffering and lessons learned. And although there is still plenty that needs to be done, one definitely gets the feeling that there is stability, that the country is on the right track and looking forward to its future.

I was so inspired by my trip that the story of GOLD TRAIN and Jade Snow’s Russian Adventure materialized on my computer as if by magic. I hope that I was able to convey in my book the complex feelings and impressions about Russia’s past, present…and future.

GOLD TRAIN was released as an eBook on December 19, 2011. The print version is scheduled for release on April 25, 2012. This year I will also release my new fantasy thriller, THE EARTH SHIFTER, which takes place in Moscow and Siberia.

During my research trip, I concentrated on Russia’s two capitals, Moscow and Saint Petersburg, which are part of GOLD TRAIN‘s spectacular setting.

Below are some of the images and impressions from my trip.

Moscow:

Above: The Friendship Fountain at the All Russia Exhibit, Moscow. This is a huge and rather picturesque park with pavilions housing various exhibits, which I loved to visit as a child (during Soviet times called VDNKh).

Above: The famed Bolshoi Theatre just re-opened after a massive renovation.

Above: The iconic St. Basil’s Cathedral, one of the most photographed buildings in the world. Lenin’s Mausoleum (right) on Red Square — featured in GOLD TRAIN.

Above: Arbat, Moscow’s historic pedestrian artist district — featured in GOLD TRAIN (notice the Starbucks on the corner).

Above: Alexander Gardens, named after the Russian Emperor Alexander I.

Above: Dancing in Alexander Gardens by the Kremlin Wall.

Above: Art on display on Arbat.

Above: On Moscow Street.

Above: Modern Moscow echoing the look and feel of the Kremlin and historic Russian architecture.

Above: Moskva City (Moscow City) under construction.

Above: The giant main building of The Moscow University. One of the so-called Seven Sisters, seven similar buildings, form a ring around the Kremlin and were built during Stalin’s time. It will be featured in THE EARTH SHIFTER.

Above and below: Some of the stations of the spectacular Moscow Metro resembling underground palaces. The Moscow Metro is the second busiest in the world after Tokyo’s. And it carries 7-8 million passengers a day in grand style.

Above: The Hermitage and the Neva River — featured in GOLD TRAIN. The entire historic center of Saint Petersburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Above: The Hermitage, Grand Stairs.

Above: Peterhof, Peter the Great’s summer residence with its famous golden singing fountains. One of the most spectacular sights in Saint Petersburg, UNESCO World Heritage Site…and my personal favorite.

Above: Anichkov Bridge on Nevsky Prospekt with its famous horse tamers’ statues.

Above: The gorgeous Amber Room (Yantarnaya Komnata), Catherine Palace. Considered by some to be the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World,’ it was stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Starting in the 1970s, it was painstakingly recreated from the original drawings and reopened to the public several years ago.

Saint Pete Metro is the fifth busiest underground transportation system in the world, carrying 3.5 million passengers a day, and the world’s deepest. Above: one of the many palatial Saint Pete Metro stations, rivaling the beautiful Moscow Metro.

She is the author of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series, includingGOLD TRAIN, a mystery thriller, set in Russia and based on true historic events; Stepford USA, a psychological mystery thriller; Green Desert, a Jade Snow novella. The upcoming books include Dragon Gate, the next Jade Snow adventure, set in Asia, and The Earth Shifter, exciting YA fantasy thriller.

GOLD TRAIN GIVEAWAY: Please leave a comment to be entered to win a GOLD TRAIN ebook on 5/6, including the *required info! What is the required info? Seehere!

Jade Snow is the protagonist of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series and of GOLD TRAIN, a gripping mystery thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events.

At 30, Jade is a seasoned international journalist, who sacrificed her career for marriage and to raise her thirteen-month old daughter Lara. But this is all about to change as her life takes an unexpectedly dramatic turn.

When Jade learns about the old mystery surrounding the missing Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, she jumps at the chance to restart her journalistic career which ground to a screeching halt after she got pregnant. She also hopes to reconnect with the country of her ancestors. Barely 24 hours after her arrival to Moscow, Jade’s only Russian friend gets brutally murdered, while Jade finds herself embroiled in a web of lies, intrigue, glamour and alien ideals. As she lands in the midst of a conspiracy threatening to overthrow the Russian government, she must stay ahead of her adversaries, knowing that one mistake may cause a civil war and upset the delicate balance of power in the world. And along the way, she meets a mysterious stranger who will change her own world forever.

Several years back, when I was flying to Asia via Dubai, I met some international journalists returning from Afghanistan, who told me stories of their adventures. As I was boarding my plane, the image of Jade Snow, complete with her flaming hair and unusual blue-green eyes, appeared before me. It occurred to me that this young, smart, fearless and beautiful journalist, who had mastered to perfection the art of being in the wrong place at the right time, would make an amazing heroine for the international adventure series.

I soon started writing my first novel, STEPFORD, USA, prequel to the Jade Snow International Adventure Series. In it, Jade, 28, gets stuck in an idyllic town in the Berkshires, MA, where she is supposed to take it easy before the birth of her child. But this little sheltered paradise is hiding a terrible secret which Jade must uncover, risking her own and her unborn baby’s lives.

Next, I wrote a short novella, GREEN DESERT, describing Jade’s riveting experience in Iraq before the start of the series. And when I stumbled upon the story of the lost Russian Imperial gold, I knew – this was to be Jade’s next adventure!

Jade Snow could have any man for the asking. But she is not content with easy happiness she could have as wife and mom. The role of a little woman is not for her, and she must find adventure wherever she goes.

In each book of the series, Jade will encounter a mystery to solve, a devastating conspiracy to uncover and someone to save, be it a wrongfully convicted man, a small Asian village, or the world entire. And in each story, she is faced with excruciatingly dramatic choices about her own love and happiness.

I’d like to give a few examples of what various reviewers say about Jade in order to illustrate a certain controversial subject. And before you decide that it’s boring… Trust me, I am trying to make a point here, so just bear with me!

“Jade… is the real treat. She does not have super powers, nor even any formal training in the spy business, but she is daring, and clever, and her heart is always in the right place.”

“Jade Snow is to journalism, what Jason Bourne is to action and espionage. The author has managed to develop a character with a fascinating thoughtful purpose… [she] goes beyond the obvious and whisks us along into the heart-stopping world of Jade Snow with breath-taking appeal for the next paragraph and page.”

“I was love struck with the interaction between the characters, how well they work together, complimenting one another to solve the mystery. Jade Snow is a very intuitive, resourceful, quick thinking, witty heroine…”

“The protagonist, Jade Snow is a strong, independent journalist with international appeal. Her intuition, ability to reason and deductive prowess rivals the great Sherlock Holmes.”

The above are all examples of five star reviews, two from male and two from female reviewers. I’ve been blessed with a number of five star reviews, which all bring up excellent points and for which I am immensely grateful.

Another reviewer, who gives GOLD TRAIN four stars, says this:

“Jade is a bright likeable character. She is educated and good at connecting the dots. While she has no training as a detective, her inquisitive mind and investigative reporting skills find her entwined in the mystery. I loved Jade the detective, but struggled to like Jade the person. While on this adventure she strays and breaks her marriage vows. [!] Call me old fashioned, but this doesn’t sit well with me; even though the romance was passionate and Jade felt he was her soul mate. I realize this won’t affect everyone, so do not let this deter you from a great adventure.”

I thank this reviewer for her frank opinion and for a thorough, generally positive review. About Jade “straying, while in Russia.” I am old fashioned too, at least on this count, but my character doesn’t have to be. And I have just one question. What if she were a male? Do we still have double standards when it comes to these issues? If you read the book, dear reader, you’ll know exactly why I ask this question.

And then, there is this:

“I however, did not like the fact that Jade jumps into bed with Alexei immediately, without a second thought to the loving husband and her daughter waiting for her back home.” [?] This is from a three star review by a male reviewer from Mumbai, India.

Ha? Jade jumps into bed immediately? Of course, all her hesitations and feelings of guilt throughout the whole book don’t count, right? And I don’t know about you, but I don’t know too many people who would think about their children right before making passionate love. In fact, this is usually the last thing on someone’s mind in such circumstances.

“If Jade was a real person, I wouldn’t like her. I wouldn’t care what happened to her.” [!] This is from a three star review by Mark Lee, Masquerade Crew (Alabama, USA). This reviewer also confesses in his review that he’s never been outside of North America.

Hmmm… I don’t even know what to say here except this.

Imagine… Jade is freezing to death on a cold, wind swept night street in St. Petersburg, Russia with nowhere to go. Her only Russian friend has just been murdered. She also just found out that the only other two people she knows in Russia are not at all what they seem. She’s been betrayed by the very people she used to trust, people who want to use her as a pawn in their twisted high stakes games. And that’s when she gets rescued by a handsome stranger. She is offered lots of wine and vodka, which she gladly accepts, both to warm up and to numb her mind after the terrible shocks she’d experienced. And the stranger she is with is handsome and sexy beyond imagination. What follows is not a one-night stand, but a relationship literally made in heaven – the kind both men and women dream about their entire lives! Yet, it is a relationship that’s not meant to be, or at least the one that is not going to be easy.

I realize, it is very hard to imagine the freezing cold, drama and betrayal, all the loneliness and confusion of a woman alone in the unfamiliar country, if you are a male leisurely reading this book on a warm couch in Alabama, or in the tropical heat of Mumbai – but try! Make an effort! And maybe, just maybe, you’ll see what I see.

So, who is Jade Snow? Is she a savior or seductress?

Jade is not your usual female character. She is strong, smart, quick thinking and witty, with broad international appeal. Fully at home in the brave, new globalized world, she is also human and there is a certain vulnerability about her, as she searches for her personal happiness. Blessed with exceptional good looks and plenty of sex appeal, she can sweep any man off his feet. But she is absolutely and brutally honest. “Crystally honest,” as they would say in Russia. Not just with the others, but also with herself, which is a much more difficult thing to do.

She would only be with the man who is her soul mate, even if it means breaking her marriage vows. She will never lie to herself, but she can sacrifice her own happiness, if to achieve it, she has to break other people’s hearts.

As they would say in the old country, “The girl likes her happiness the hard way.”

I have to confess: I adore Jade, not only as one of my characters – my creation – but also as a person. And I am very proud of how she acts in the most crucial moments of her life. Sometimes she even manages to surprise me – very pleasantly so. Her dramatic life has thrown her more than her share of loss and curveballs, and she’s been known to pass her heart-wrenching tests with flying colors, while at the same time managing to preserve her witty sense of humor. And because of her attitudes and lessons learned, somewhere along the way, she finds the rainbow… when she least expects it.

I can’t emphasize enough how much our contemporary literature needs the smart and strong female characters and role models who are also real, genuine people. And how much we need more people with intelligence, courage and heart in our everyday lives! In the new world of the 21 century, we have to learn to live and work together, regardless of prejudices and borders, to understand each other and help those in need, whether it is by saving a stranger’s life, averting global disaster, or by a simple act of random kindness.

The next Jade Snow adventure will take place in Asia. There are many more mysteries to solve, conspiracies to uncover, and yes, happiness to find!

Dear readers, see you on pages of my books, where Jade and I promise you a non-stop thrilling ride with heart!

What do you think?

GOLD TRAIN GIVEAWAY: Please leave a comment to be entered to win a GOLD TRAIN ebook on 5/6, including the *required info! What is the required info? Seehere!

Check out other cool stops along the Gold Train Paperback Launch Blog Tour – not your usual tour! It includes lots of interesting interviews, reviews, and special features, including: Fact and Fiction in Gold Train; Russia and I; as well as a rare, candid conversation with Jason Sullivan of Different Outcomes Blog about the Russian royalty and 1918 Civil War, Soviet and Russian literature and film, my childhood memories riding Russian trains, May Day celebration in the USSR, and what it was like growing up in the Soviet Union. There will also be some rare and exclusive pictures. Don’t miss these very special events!

Born in Russia, Lada always wanted to write cool stories, which she’d been imagining in her head ever since she can remember. Instead, she listened to her well-meaning parents and started her life in a more traditional way (for her, that is.)

Lada holds a Master’s Degree in comparative linguistics (graduated summa cum laude,) is fluent in several languages and has traveled to over twenty six countries (she stopped counting after 26) in Europe, Asia, North and South America, as well as Africa. She had worked in Havana, Cuba as an interpreter for the Russian educational exchange delegations, including a couple of interviews with the man himself – Fidel Castro.

In the USA, she published articles in the Hartford Courant & taught Russian on cable TV. Then, something inexplicable possessed her to work as a financial consultant for AIG and Smith Barney/Citigroup.

But later, she came back to her senses and quit the corporate world to pursue her dreams. She traveled to Asia to study with the revered Hong Kong Masters of Feng Shui and obtained her International Master’s Certification (graduated first in class) with Lillian Too, world-renowned feng shui author and teacher. For years, Lada operated an extensive feng shui website and blog – a hit with both local and worldwide fans – and authored over thirty articles on feng shui and spirituality for her own website, as well as for the World of Feng Shui and other international publications. At the same time, she taught her proprietary feng shui courses and did public speaking.

Lada imagines her stories in bustling New York City and beautifully serene Catskill Mountains, where she lives with her family and gorgeous calico cat Lily.

May 01 (Tu) Different Outcomes – Author Jason Sullivan of Different Outcomes Blog and I are preparing a rare and candid interview. In it we’ll discuss the Russian Civil War; history and current state of the Russian royalty; Soviet and Russian literature and film; May Day celebration in the USSR; and the unique character of Jade Snow. In addition, we’ll talk about my childhood experiences riding Russian trains and what it was like growing up in the Soviet Union. I will include some rare and exclusive photos. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event! Five Star review included.

May 03 (Th) Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer – Interview and review(includes book giveaway: 1 author signed paperback copy and 1 ebook – for terms see Kimba the Caffeinated Blog)

May 04 (Fr) Lada Ray Blog – the Best of GOLD TRAIN reviews and interviews

As promised, below is a preview of the new GOLD TRAIN paperback cover. The front cover is slightly modified compared to the ebook version.

Paperback Cover Spread:

Front cover:

Spine:

Back Cover:

This is a large paperback – 9X6 inches, 232 pages, printed on quality cream paper. Nice, large text, easy to read. This edition includes a sneak peek synopsis and exclusive excerpt from DRAGON GATE, the next Jade Snow Adventure set in Asia.

During the paperback launch and Gold Train Blog Tour all my books will be on sale.

For a limited time, paperback will be $9.99 on Amazon (4/23-5/6).

Gold Train ebook will also be on sale on Amazon for $0.99. Stepford, USA ebook will be $0.99 as well. Green Desert will be FREE. Own all 3 Jade Snow Adventures for only $1.98!

During the blog tour we are also planning 3 exciting giveaways of both Gold Train paperback and ebook editions. In total, 8 copies will be given away.

Don’t forget to check out the exciting blog stops and features of this unusual blog tour, including: JADE SNOW: SAVIOR OR SEDUCTRESS; FACT AND FICTION IN GOLD TRAIN; and exclusive discussion with Jason Sullivan of DIFFERENT OUTCOMES about the implications of the Russian Civil War, what happened to the Russian royalty, how May 1 (May Day) was celebrated in the USSR, and what it was like growing up in the Soviet Union (with rare photos).